Cover photo for Nancy Rebecca Vayvada's Obituary
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Nancy Rebecca Vayvada

October 25, 1929 — October 20, 2014

Nancy Rebecca Vayvada

NANCY K. VAYVADA Nancy Rebecca (Kennedy) Vayvada, 84, widow of George Vayvada, died Monday, October 20, 2014 after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. She was born October 25, 1929, in Frederick, Maryland, a daughter of the late Francis and Floranzo (Marsh) Kennedy, and lived most of her life in Charlottesville. Nancy was known for her tenacity and no-nonsense approach to life. She was valedictorian of her 1947 class at St. John's High School where she was awarded the Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Medal for achieving the highest scholastic record in science subjects and the Gold Medal Alumni award for general excellence. She graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1951 with a BS in Biology and worked as a microbiologist for both Merck and the Department of Defense at Fort Detrick, where her direct style and tough work ethic earned her the nickname "Sarge." Nancy was a sports fanatic. She played varsity basketball at both the high school and college level and remained an avid golfer into her late seventies. She regularly set tee times and gathered the group from the Charlottesville Senior Center for 18 holes at Meadowcreek Golf Course until her health would no longer permit it. She passed her love of sports on to her children, teaching them every sport she knew: basketball, baseball, football, ice skating, and golf. Nancy will be remembered for her independence, athleticism, and remarkable intelligence. Family members include two sons and daughters-in-law, Christopher Vayvada and Mary Samsell of Richmond and Michael and Emily Vayvada of Staunton; a daughter and son-in-law, Marsha Vayvada and Donald Steger Jr. of Staunton; a brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Johnna Kennedy of Frederick, MD; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Vayvada of Suitland, MD; and three grandchildren, William Everett Vayvada, Gillian May Steger, and Emma Smith Castro. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, William Vayvada; her daughter, Vicky Vayvada; her sister, Betty Dzik; and four brothers, Francis Jr. Kennedy, John R. Kennedy, William C. Kennedy and Philip M. Kennedy. A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 8, at 2:00 pm at Pleasant View Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2733 Springhill Road, Staunton, VA 24401.
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